Enhancing Student Engagement

download Enhancing Student Engagement

of 28

Transcript of Enhancing Student Engagement

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    1/28

    Enhancing

    Student Engagement

    Faculty Development Programme13 Jul 2009

    Gurpartap Singh,

    Asst. Professor

    Chandigarh Business School

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    2/28

    What is Student Engagement ?

    It is increasingly seen as an indicator of successfulclassroom instruction, and as a valued outcome ofschool reform. The phrase has been identified as

    "the latest buzzword in education circles.

    Student engagement occurs when"students make a psychological

    investment in learning. They tryhard to learn what the school

    offers. They take pride not simplyin earning the formal indicators ofsuccess (grades), but inunderstanding the material and

    incorporating or internalizing it intheir lives.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    3/28

    What is Student Engagement ?Students are engaged when they are involvedin their work, persist despite challenges andobstacles, and take visible delight inaccomplishing their work.

    Student engagement alsorefers to a "student'swillingness, need, desireand compulsion to

    participate in, and besuccessful in, the learningprocess promoting higherlevel thinking for enduringunderstanding.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    4/28

    What is Student Engagement ?

    However, the term is also increasingly used todescribe meaningful student involvementthroughout the learning environment, includingstudents participating in college activities,

    curriculum enhancement, classroom managementand building the campus environment.

    Student engagement isfrequently used to, "depictstudents' willingness toparticipate in routine collegeactivities, such as attendingclasses, submitting requiredwork, and following teachers'directions in class.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    5/28

    What is Student Engagement ?It is also often used to refer as much to

    student involvement in extra-curricularactivities in the campus life of aschool/college/university which are thought

    to have educational benefits as it is tostudent focus on their curricular studies.

    In a number of studies, studentengagement has been

    identified as a desirable trait inschools; however, there is littleconsensus among studentsand educators as to how to

    define it.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    6/28

    What is Student Engagement ?

    Definitions usually include a psychological and

    behavioural component. Student engagement isused to discuss students' attitudes towardscollege, while student disengagement identifieswithdrawing from college in any significant way.

    A number of studieshave shown that studentengagement overlapswith, but is not the same

    as, student motivation.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    7/28

    Why is the concept of

    student engagement ahot topic in Higher Education?

    More aware and demanding students

    Global marketing of education

    Govt. imperatives on retention andattainment

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    8/28

    Building StudentEngagement

    1. Setting the Tone

    2. Classroom Interaction

    3. Classroom Specifics

    4. Classroom Atmosphere

    5. Beyond the Classroom

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    9/28

    1. Setting the Tone

    Most students need a little helpunderstanding and practicing theskills and behaviours they need tosucceed.

    One of the most important thingsyou can do as teacher to help lay thegroundwork for this is to provide

    clear, explicit, and consistentinstructions starting with the veryfirst day of class.

    For structuring your first day of

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    10/28

    1. Establish procedures2. Use an entrance table

    3. Learn students names4. Use focus activities

    5. Create a today we will list

    6. Make proper introductions7. Use an interest inventory to

    get

    to know your students8. Keep the class organized

    9. Teach a lesson

    10. The lesson plan

    1 E t bli h d A i l t t th

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    11/28

    1. Establish procedures Arrive early to get theclassroom set up the way you want it. Post instructionson the projector/board telling the students what you needthem to do before class begins (e.g. pick up syllabus,

    introduce yourself and find a seat.)2. Use an entrance table This is where students pick upthe syllabus, and anything else they need to pick up orturn in throughout the semester.

    3. Learn students names Have students introducethemselves and compare their names entered in theattendance register.4. Use focus activities On the screen or board, writewhat students are to do as soon as they arrive each day to

    class. On the first day, this could simply be theconfirmation of names. Later on, these focus activitiescould be related to the subject.5. Create a today we will list If you only implement one

    tip from this list, this is the one to do. The list shouldremain visible at all times so as to kee the class on track.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    12/28

    6. Make proper introductions This will vary by class size, butwhen

    students know each others names, it builds a sense of

    communityand students are more likely to be courteous toward each

    other.7. Use an interest inventory to get to know your students

    Pass out

    the survey in class and ask questions ranging from name andqualification to favourite movie or song. Share some

    informationabout you with the class as well.8. Keep the class organized Tell the students how they need

    to keeptheir books and note-books. Instruct the students how they willsubmit and get back their papers and other assignments.9. Teach a lesson It is critically important to teach something

    on thevery first day. This could be a mini-lecture, a quiz, a small case

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    13/28

    2. Classroom Interactions

    Now we moveon to onstrategies forimproving

    classroominteractions.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    14/28

    1. Make the class interactive2. Call on students constantly to

    answer questions3. Reassure students that you will

    come back to them

    4. Find a students strength5. Encourage shy students to speak6. Listen actively to students during

    discussions7. Incorporate peer review8. Do a networking exercise9. Ask for feedback from students

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    15/28

    from passive observers to active learners. Students learn more and retain morewhen they are actively involved. Working in pairs (dyads) at the start of everyclass gets everyone engaged, not just the people who raise their hands. Plus,then students share their thoughts with each other first, the class discussionwill be of a higher quality.

    2. Call on students constantly to answer questions: Make a habit of askingindividual students by name to answer questions without first asking forvolunteers. This keeps the whole class awake and alert. You want yourstudents to be on their toes, knowing that you might ask them at any time toanswer a question.3. Reassure students that you will come back to them: If two or more students

    raise their hands at the same time, reassure those not selected that you willcome back to them in a moment.4. Find a students strength: If one student is particularly adept at a particularskill set, point it out and have an expectation for the student to be the expert.

    This raises the student in the esteem of classmates and encourages thestudent to stay abreast of the topic. Try to find a dozen students like this in

    your class for a variety of topics by being specific in your praise.5. Encourage shy students to speak: Protect the soft-spoken and encourageshy students to speak. Dont allow long-winded or loud students to dominatethe classroom discussion. Call on those who dont speak much so everyone is

    heard from. Allow such students to speak from their seats instead of coming tothe front of the class. Another idea is to pose a question and give the students

    a few moments this allows students to formulate their thoughts before the

    : ur ng scuss ons

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    16/28

    . : ur ng scuss ons,maintain eye contact with the student so he/she has your complete attention.Students want to be heard. By nodding, smiling or otherwise acknowledging thestudent, you show commitment to listening and understanding what eachstudent has to say. Give critical feedback, but also compliment the student forthe observations so the student feels encouraged.

    7. Incorporate peer review: When students make presentations, which theyshould do frequently, encourage peer review. Get students to teach each otherand to learn from each other. It engages them more than the professor doing asolo act.

    8. Do a networking exercise: In some of the early classes in the semester, givestudents a three-minute networking exercise. Stress the importance of

    networking with people for their careers. Then tell them to stand up, movearound the room and find a student they dont know or know very little. Ask them

    to find out more about the person and then have them report back to the wholeclass.

    9. Ask for feedback from students: One month into the class, ask for feedback.You may ask: What is helping you learn in the class? What hinders your

    learning? What are your suggestions? Give them about ten minutes to write theiranswers. They need not give their names. Repeat this exercise after one month. Itwill give valuable information about what is or is not working, allowing you tomodify what you are doing. Always report back to the class on what you learntfrom the feedback and the intended changes . Tell that you welcome feedbackfrom them and make sure you implement the changes . This exercise will

    empower your students and send the message that you care about how they aredoin in the course and that ou are o en to makin chan es for their benefit.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    17/28

    3. Classroom Specifics

    Here are somespecificsuggestions for

    what needs to bedone in theclassroom to getyour studentsinterested andexcited aboutyour course.

    1 how up early for class

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    18/28

    1. how up early for class2. Take roll3. Start with student summary

    of last class4. Write the plan for the class onboard5. Have the students stand up andstretch6. Play short games7. Have field trips as part of the class8. Invite parents and siblings

    9. Complete the class

    1 Show up early for class: Showing up early for class allows you to connect

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    19/28

    1. Show up early for class: Showing up early for class allows you to connectwith your students. Greet them warmly and engage them in conversation.Arrive meticulously prepared, including having backup plans and extramarkers or chalk in your pocket.2. Take roll: Some professors believe its the students responsibility, as anadult, to attend class. Theres merit to that argument, but it has been found

    that students are more likely to attend class if they know you take roll. Thishelps you and the students to learn names and helps build a sense of

    community.3. Start with student summary of last class: Start class by asking a studentto summarize the main points from the last class. This provides continuity

    (and helps students who were absent), and also helps students feelcomfortable with oral communication. Let your students know you plan todo this so they can prepare.4. Write the plan for the class on board: Write the plan for the class on theboard before students arrive. This helps the students know what to expectand encourages participation. Refer back to the plan as the class unfolds.

    This gives you a chance to recap and answer questions. You dont have tocover everything in the plan. Remain flexible. The goal is to focus onstudent learning, not necessarily cover every detail in the outline on the

    board.5. Have the students stand up and stretch: Sitting for one hour (or even 45minutes) is too much for anyone. If practicable, once in a while, ask all yourstudents to stand up and stretch. This helps break things up a bit and keeps

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    20/28

    6. Play short games: For long classes, occasionally play a short game,especially early in the semester. Such games, which last no more than afew minutes, help students get to know each other. They are a fun breakfrom the intensity of the class and help to build a sense of belonging andcommunity. Students motivation and desire to learn are increased.7. Have field trips as part of the class: Whenever possible, have field tripsand excursions. Interacting with students in a non-classroomenvironment can be more engaging because the students tend to feelmore relaxed.8. Invite parents and siblings: Tell your students that if their parents or

    siblings are ever in town, they are welcome to attend the class so theycan see what a typical class is like.9. Complete the class: At the end of each class, summarize what wasaccomplished. Reinforce and underscore the two or three key messagesor learning points youd like the students to come away with. If some

    project or assignment is to be given, try to provide a typed handout, sothere is no confusion about what you are asking for. Another idea at theend of the class is to have your students write a minute paper, asking

    them What is the most significant thing you learnt today and What

    question is uppermost in your mind at the end of todays class .10. End the class on time: End the class on time to show basic

    consideration for the value of the students time.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    21/28

    4. Classroom Atmosphere

    Proper classatmosphere is alsovery important forstudentengagement. Thefollowingsuggestions will

    help you build anatmosphere ofconstantengagement,

    passion and

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    22/28

    1. Convey your passion andenthusiasm for the subject

    2. Create a welcomingenvironment

    3. Foster a sense of belongingand respect

    4. Encourage high performance

    5. Promote active engagement6. Sit in a circle7. Make every class writing-intensive

    8. Manage large lecture-based classes

    1 C i d th i f th bj t Y h l

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    23/28

    1. Convey your passion and enthusiasm for the subject: Your wholebody language and voice must convey the message that there isnowhere else youd rather be. Many professors like to walk among the

    students, and have their whole body and voice reflect their greatfascination with the subject matter. Classes are much more engagingwhen teachers are moving around and not sitting still or lecturingfrom a lectern(lecture stand). When students see their professors

    passion, they want to participate.2. Create a welcoming environment: Effective teachers createwelcoming classroom environments that motivate students to thrive.

    They are committed to excellence in teaching. This manifests itself inenthusiasm, responsiveness to students e-mail and office visits, andwillingness to go beyond the call of duty.3. Foster a sense of belonging and respect: Students want to feel as ifthey belong in the class and that they have friends there. The

    atmosphere must be inclusive and trusting so students feel theirviews are heard and valued.4. Encourage high performance: Students should take risks, andteachers should challenge students with more work than they thinkthey can handle, encouraging them to develop high-level critical and

    analytical thinking skills. Demand that your students push themselvesfurther than they normally do.

    . ,

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    24/28

    . ,dynamic lectures can be tedious for students. Most students learn more whenthey are actively engaged in their own learning through reacting to lectureswith questions and comments, participating in class discussions, andthrough active learning exercises.6. Sit in a circle: For a small class, give the students a sense of community by

    sitting in a circle. This provokes dialogue and provides space for intentionaland respectful engagement.7. Make every class writing-intensive: Writing has a major role in studentlearning and engagement, and in promoting critical thinking and intellectualcuriosity. Include a variety of writing assignments throughout the semester,informal and formal, in-class and out-of-class, thinking pieces, interpretive

    essays, research papers and reports. Students not only learn to write, butthey also write to learn.8. Manage large lecture-based classes: If you have a large lecture-based classwhere many of the above ideas are irrelevant, you might try the followingideas. Chat informally with students before class and try to learn the names ofsome students. Place a box by the door for feedback questions, thoughts,suggestions, ideas, opinions, etc. Begin or end your lectures with items fromthe box. Announce at the beginning that you will ask a student to summarizethe lecture at the end of the class. Or have students spend three minutes atthe end writing up the main points. Make eye contact as you lecture and try tomake eye contact with each student equally. Dont give the impression of

    teaching to the front of the room or only to a select group or population ofstudents.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    25/28

    5. Beyond the Classroom

    For complete student engagement, weneed to go beyond the classroom. Asprofessors, we impact students not only

    during classes, but also through officehours, emails, and feedback. Somepossible steps to enhance studentengagement beyond the classroom are:

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    26/28

    1. Manage your office hours

    2. Reach out to students whomiss a class

    3. Be responsive to e-mailsand calls from students

    4. Give plenty of studentfeedback

    5. Permit assignment counter-offers

    6. Call the parents of outstanding

    students

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    27/28

    1. Manage your office hours: Encourage the students to drop by even ifthey dont have specific questions. Give students specific time to meet you if

    you are busy. Ensure that students dont have to wait.2. Reach out to students who miss a class: Contact any students who

    dont show up to find out if they need help. One idea: if a student misses aclass for any reason, ask him/her for a three to five-page analytic paper on atopic related to the missed class.3. Be responsive to e-mails and calls from students: Respond promptlyto all student e-mails and messages. Dont snub the students if they call on

    your cell number. Just tell them the appropriate time to do so, if needed.4. Give plenty of student feedback: Students want rigorous, critical anddetailed feedback in a constructive and encouraging manner. Just be sure tocriticize the work, and not the person.5. Permit assignment counter-offers: Whenever appropriate, let yourstudents take more control of their own learning by allowing them tocounter-offer when you give an assignment.6. Call the parents of outstanding students: Toward the end of thesemester, select the top five or six students in your class, call their mom and

    dad and tell them that they can be very proud of their son or daughters

    performance. The parents will be delighted to receive this call from you.

  • 8/4/2019 Enhancing Student Engagement

    28/28

    In the Final Analysis

    The more students learn, the more value they find intheir learning, the more likely they are to stay andgraduate. This is particularly true for more able and

    motivated students who seek out learning and are inturn more likely to respond to perceivedshortcomings in the quality of learning theyexperience on campus. Lest we forget, the purpose

    of higher education is not merely that students areretained but that they are educated. In the finalanalysis, student learning drives student retention.